Cotton-picking machine.



F. PRESTWICH. COTTON PIGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1907.

Patented May 31, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. PRESTW'IGH.. COTTON PIGKING MACHINE. APPLICATION I ILED MAY 18, 1907.

Patentd May 31, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented May 31, 1910.

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COTTON PIGKING MACHINE. APILIOATION nmznmu 1B, 1907.

Patented May 31 4 SHEETS- SHEET 4. v

111111 llnilllilllll-III/llll! resident of No. 33 Bradford road,

FBEDEEIG lE'hESTWIGH, F BOLTON, ENGLAND.

GGTTUN-EICKING IMACHINE.

Applicationfiled May 18, 1907. i Serial No. 374,477.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Fennnnro Pnnsrwicn,

a'subjec't of the King of Great Britainand reat Lever, Bolton,.- in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented. a certain new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Picking .Ma- 1 chines, of which the following description, together withthe accompanying sheets of drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of cot ton pickmg machines wherein devices are employed which the attendants have to present'to the cotton plants to receive or gather the cotton therefrom and convey it by pneumat c action to a eonnnon receptacle, and said invention consists'in arrangingthe devices referred to so that several attendantsv may be enabled to carry out the picking'or gathering operations together or-simultaneously and in such a manner or by such means as shall'delive'r said-cotton into a receptacle for receiving same with little intermixture of hulls, husks, seed pods or other foreign matter, as this latter is separated from said cotton by the novel devices hereinafter des'cribed. v v In carrying this inventioninto' efieet devices are employed as hereinafter described and as illustrated by the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein Figure l is a front view of the apparatus as when in use for gathering the cotton from several rows of plants. llig. 2 is plan of the apparatus shown by Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus shown by Figs. 1 and 2 with certain covers orparts removed, while the folding of other parts'is shown inbroken lines. Fig. lis a rear elevation of the apparatus with'certain covering parts removed and with other parts placed inposition for enabling the whole to be transported or to travel. from one planta-' tion or place to another. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4c but shows the parts inclosed by outer covering devices. Fig.6 1s a plan of a part or mouth piece drawn to an enlarged scale) constructed as hereinafter explained. Fig. 6 is a side elevation partly in section, of a portion of the tube leading to the mouthpiece illustrated by Fig. 6. Fig. 'Z-is asectional side elevation, to anenlarged scale, of that part of the apparatus which receives, cleans and delivers or deposits the cotton.

online A-B of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a, plan of Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 8-is a sectional plan Patented the grid or screen 13 and parts in contiguity therewith. Fig. 10 is an enlarged elevation of one of the suction tubes and connections. S1m1lar letters and figures of reference views. v v

I The. vehicle upon which the air propel-f May "31, 1910;."

lingmechanism is mounted, is arranged so that its body part b shall be higher than the cotton plants 0 in order that its wheels d, (1 may pass between neighboring rows of plants without' damaging or interfering with any of them. The air propelling apparatus mounted thereon is of two types? one for inducing the flow of, a compare-k tively large, volunie' of air through the conveying pipes, and the other for supplying a volume of compressed air as here nafter described. And as there are very manykinds of such blowers and compressors which might be used it is suflicient to' state that the one at a may be of a fan-type (such as that known of The Sturtevant make) while the other at a may be of the reciprober a adjoinin the chamber a in which are mounted the i 'litary drums- 8 and 9. The

drum 8 is in the form of an, open-ended cylinder, and preferably its surface consists of w re net work, or its equivalent, so that the currentof air striking thereon wlll enso cating piston or rotary type for compress mg the air. The fan a is s tuated in a ChZUIlter the said drum,- but the-solid matter will remain on the surface. The drum or roller 9 is preferably solid and'acts as a pressure roll for the cotton passing overthe drum 8,

and a rotary movement is imparted thereto .by frictionalcontact'with'said drum '8. To a compensate for varying thickness. of ma- .terial passing between said drums 8 and 9,

the axles ofthe latter are mountedin guides I' 9 (see F ig. 7 so that the same may rise or fall. drums to prevent the inrush of air at those parts whereit would cause the cotton bat to adhere, and where it is necessary 'that'such' bat'shouldbe loose. Said shield 35 is connected by arms'36 to a'hub 37 resting loosely on the drunis shaft andis held in position by means of a counterbalancing weight 38 A shield 35 is mounted within the A scraping knife 39 is mounted in the dis- Charge openingat the rear of the casing, to

assist in removing the cotton bat from the drum 8. The-ends of the drum 8 as shown by Fig. 8 rotate within and open into the cavities or casings 10 which are connectedwith indicate similar parts throughout the several I the chamber a b; that as the fan a? 1:: rotated to withdraw the air from the casmg 10 'said air travels through the drum 8 to keep up the tiow through said casing 10. The drum 8 'as also the fan a rotated by belt or other motion transmitting means actuated'by the motor within the casing 12.

A stationary, and preferably inclined screen or grid 13 is located between the chamber a and the drum'8, in a position where it will catch the foreign material broken lines by Fig. 3 into their laterallyextending positions shown by Figs. 1 and 2. Coupled to these pipes f, are the pendent flexible pipes or tubes g, g arranged in positions lying between the rows of plants 0. The delivery ends f f of the conveyor pipes f f are located in the chamber a Just above the screen or grid 13 so that the material delivered therefrom passes over said screen or grid 13 during its passage to the drum 8. In these tubes-g, g and at an appropriate distance from the nioutlrpicces it, 7r are mounted the valves g, Q actuated as hereinafter explained.

Leading from the compressed-air cham her a are the tubes m, or (shown in Figs.

6 andti) which are of comparatively small diameter and extend along the pipes f and tubes 9, 9 up to the mouth pieces h, h where they terminate in' annular lorin around such month pieces in order that the air under pressure I passing through them may escape through and be guided by outlet openings 79, p of convenient shape to act upon the cotton and dislodge it from its pod or hull.

Situ.:ted in each tube 9 is a valve 9 which is actuated by't'he .rod r (in the form of a toothed rack) of piston 1" which works within the cylinder 8, said piston r being forced by compressed air in the upward or outward direction to move the toothed quadrant r fixed to the spindle of the valve {1' so to cause said valve 9 to open while the spring eti'ccts its closure when said compressed air is shut ofi".

Communicating with each of the tubes In is a valve 6 which is under the control of the attendant so that by the pressure of his thumb thereon it may be forced down the duct or pipe 11, so

or open a passage t leading from the tube m. Through this opening t theair under pressure enters the barrel of the valve 15 (by passing through an opening made in the central part of said valve t) and escapes through an opening a entering the cylinder 8 to force the piston 9" outwardly, thus opening the valve When the compressed air has thus torceo the piston r outwardly, the opening u is uncovered and so said air may travel to escape by the outlet openings 2), p. Immediately the attendant releases his thumb pressure on the valve 1; its spring ettects its return and closes it thus allowing the spring 7* to return the piston r and close the valve g so that all actions of the air through their respective extremities are shut oil. An outlet opening i allows any compressed air thatmay remain in the cylinder 3 on the closing of the valve Z, to escape.

The fan and air compressor on the vehicle are actuated by an engine or motor mechanism carried by said vehicle and such motor mechanism is also arranged to transmit motion where desired to parts which.

transport or carry same oven the ground. Or if this is found undesirable then other means may be employed for carrying the vehicle and its apparatus into proper position relatively with the succeeding cotton plants, for performing the functions desired of them.

-intricatc work for the attendant, then o-nlv one of such tubes may be used.) 011 the attendant approaching a plant for the purpose of gathering the cotton thcrcirom he places each of his 'mouth-picccs l1, /1 over a boil of cotton (one mouthpiece over each boll separately) and presses the valve 1 to open sum. and allow the compressed air to actthereon and this on account ot' being directed toward the base of the pod or hull containing the cotton, dislodgcs same so that it is brought under the inllucncc oi. the sub tion of air by the fan which thus carries it along through the tuhcs r and pipes f to come into contact with the drums 8 and t. which allow the air to pass through them as described. but by their rotary lllOllOllS carry the cotton to pass between them to be thereby deposited in the receptacle ll .t guard lT prevents the cotton and air from escaping by or passing over the top of the drum 8. in ccds. lillSlCS or hulls or like matter against the recoil of the spring 6' to uncover which may travel with the cotton toward the drums 8 and 9.011, passing over the grids or grating 13 are separated therefrom by frictional'contact with said grating, on which they pass beneath so that they may subsequently be removed therefrom ande'inployed for the many purposes tor which they are" useful. The finer dust escaping from the cotton through the drums 8 and 9 passes forward through the fan a and up the chimncy ltto be carried away from the attendants and. such dust in addition to the air, is the only substance which passes through the fan chamber a Such being the nature and object of my invention what I claim 'is:

1. A cotton picking machine consisting of a suction chamber, suction tubes communicating therewith, a source of compressed air supply provided with outlets adapted to deliver compressed air into the mouths of said suction tubes, and. mechanism operated by the compressed air for controlling the suction of said suction tubes. I

A cotton picking machine consisting of a suctlon chamber, suction tubes communieating therewith, a source of'compressed airsupply provided with outlets adapted to deliver compressed air into the mouths of said suction tubes, a pressure operated valvefcontrolling said. suction pipe and a second valve controlling admission of pressure from said compressed air supply to operate the valve in said suction pipe.

'3. A cotton picking machine consisting of a suction chamber, suct on tubespommunieating therewith, a source of compressed alr supply provided with outlets adapted to d'e-' liver compressed air into the mouthsof said suction tubes. a valve controlling each suction tube,.a piston operated bypressure from said compressedair supply, a valvecontrolling the admission of pressure to said piston and connections between said piston and the ;with a rack engaging said segment and -a valve controlling the admiss onof pressure to said piston.

5. A cotton picking machine comprising a suction chamber, suction tubes communicating therewith; a source or compressed air supplyprovided with outlets adapted to de-- liver compressedair into the mouths of said suction tubes, a pressure operated valve controlling each suction pipe, a spring pressed normally seated valve controlling admission of pressure to operate the firs;- mentioned as valve and a stem on said pressure controlling valve provided with an enlargement whereby the same may be manually operated.

6. A cotton picking machine consisting of a suction chamber, suction tubes communi cating therewith a source of compressed air supply, a manually operable valve for regulating the supply of compressed air, and mechanism controlled by said valve for controlling the action of the suction tubes.

7. A cotton picking machine consisting of a. suction chamber, pivotally mounted suction tubes comunicating therewith and provided with depending branches, a source of compressed air supply' provided with outlets adapted to deliver compressed air into the mouths or said suction tubes, and mechanism operated by the compressed air for controlling the suction of said suction tubes.

8. A cotton picking machine consisting of a suction chamber, suction tubes communicating therewith, a source of compressed air supply provided with outlets adapted to deliver compressed air into the mouths of said suction tubes, a valve controlling said compressed air supply, and means controlled by said valve for regulating the operation of said suction tubes. 9. A cotton harvester comprising a separating drum,' swiveled pipes for deliverin cotton upon-the periphery of said drum, sai pipes being provided with suction tubes, and a suction apparatus for exhausting air through the ends of said drum and simultaneously creating a suction in said pipes and tubes. I

' 10. A cotton harvester comprising a separating drum, exhaust chambers with which the ends of said drum communicate, sw'iveled pipes for delivering cotton upon thev periphery of said drum, said pipes being provided with suction tubes, and a suction apparatus for exhausting the air from said exhaust chambers and simultaneously creating a suction in said pipes and tubes. 11. A cotton harvester comprising a separating drum, suction tubes for delivering cotton upon the periphery of said drum, a

suction a a'ratus for exhaustin air throu' h the ends of said drum, a stack into which saidsuction apparatus delivers the exhausted -air, and means carried by said stack for suprnnnnnro ransrwrcn.

\Vitnes'ses:

JOHN Wnrrrinnnn, DANIEL VVALSH Hownnrrr. 

